Folding table



June 16, 1936. 'r. M. WEBBER FOLDINQ TABLE Filed July 50, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 16, 1936. T, M, WEBBER' 2,044,235

FOLDING TABLE Filed July 30, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 16, 1936. T, WEBBER 2,044,235

FOLDING TABLE Filed July so, 1952 s Sheets-Sheet s v grwc/wbo't/ 77 1 1 as 1 We r Patented June 16, 1936 2,044,235 FOLDING TABLE Thomas M. Webber,

Detroit, Mich, assignor to Albert P. Ball, Detroit, Mich.

Application July Claims.

This invention relates to an article of furniture in the nature of a table or the like.

One of the primary objects of this invention is to provide an article of the above mentioned character which will include legs movable to supporting and non-supporting positions whereby when the article is not in use the legs may be collapsed and the article conveniently stored away.

A further object of this invention is to provide an article of the above mentioned character which will have not only a main supporting deck, but other supporting portions movable to operative and inoperative positions upon movement of the legs to supporting and non-supporting positions.

.The invention further contemplates the provision of an article of the above mentioned character which will include a main supporting deck and which will include also a means movable toward and away from this main supporting deck, this last mentioned means being so connected to the legs as to move the latter to supporting and non-supporting positions and to lock the legs in supporting position.

The invention has as a further object to provide an article of the above mentioned character which will include a main supporting deck and which will include legs so connected to this deck that they may be folded to a position where they lie substantially flush against the under surface of the supporting deck.

Numerous other objects and advantages of this invention will become more apparent as the following description proceeds, particularly when reference is had to the accompanying drawings wherein several embodiments of the inventive idea are disclosed in detail and wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a table embodying the principles of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the legs of the table in collapsed position;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the table showing the legs in collapsed or non-supporting position;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the table partly in section showing the legs in supporting position;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view with parts broken away showing the table with the legs in supporting position;

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary perspective view showing one of the legs of the table and a portion 30, 1932, Serial No. 626,412

of the means for moving this leg to supporting and non-supporting positions;

Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view of a slightly modifled form of construction, the legs of the table being shown in supporting positions;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 9-4! of Fig. 8; and

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9 showing the legs of the table collapsed.

Referring then particularly to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout all views, there is disclosed a table having a top or main supporting deck l5. While this deck may be of any desired shape, it is shown as having the long sides i5 and its corners cut on a bias to provide the short sides ll, these short sides constituting the corners of the table top. The top is preferably provided with a depending peripheral flange l8.

Disposed at the four corners of the table are hinge brackets i8. Each hinge bracket comprises a short strap welded or otherwise secured to the under surface of the table, and each strap is provided at its ends with depending ears 2E3. Hingedly connected to the ears of each hinge bracket is a leg 2!, the legs being preferably relatively wide at their upper ends and tapering downwardly toward their lower ends.

As illustrated in Fig. 4.- of the drawings, the hinge brackets are preferably slightly inclined with reference to planes normal to the diagonals bisecting the sides l! of the table top. With the hinge brackets inclined in this manner, opposite legs may be folded to positions where they lie side by side rather than one on top of the other. This is clearly illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings wherein it will be noted that one set of opposite legs are folded to a position where they lie beside each other adjacent the under surface of the table top while the other set of opposite legs are folded to a position where they lie beside each other in superposed relation with respect to the first set of legs. Thus by tapering the legs and by inclining the axes of the hinges thereof, the legs may be folded to lie close adjacent the under side of the table top, thus occupying a minimum amount of space.

Each leg is provided adjacent its upper end with an opening 25. These openings may be conveniently stamped in the legs if the latter are made of sheet metal. and each opening is preferably surrounded on three sides by an inwardly extending flange 26. Pivotally mounted in each openr the drawings.

, away from the deck porting positions, the

ing as by the pivot pins 21 secured to the flange 26, is a link 28. The links are movable from positions where they lie substantially in the plane of their respective legs, as illustrated in Fig 3 of the drawings, to positions normal to their respective legs, as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawwardly toward the center of the table. The openings 25 are of sufiicient size to receive the ends when the links are in the deck. This deck is similar in shape to the top I 5, but is somewhat smaller in size. It is provided with a peripheral upstanding flange 37.

Fixed to the under surface of the sub-deck, as by welding or the ilke, are arms 39, and these arms project radially from the sub-deck beyond the short sides 38 thereof. The arms 39 correspond in number to the links 28 and are pivotally connected to these links as by the hinge pins or the like 40.

The links 28 and arms 39 constitutetoggle connections between the legs 2! and the sub-deck 35. This sub-deck is movable toward and away from the main deck l5 while being held at all times in parallel relation to this deck. When the deck 35 is moved upwardly toward the under surface of the deck I 5 or to the position shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the toggle joints are broken and the legs 2| are folded inwardly to their non-supporting positions, as illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings. When the legs are in this position, movement of the sub-deck 3 5 downwardly or l5 will cause the toggle connections to move the legs 2| outwardly to their supporting positions, as illustrated in Fig. 2 of It will be noted that cooperating surfaces 4| and 42 on the links and arms respectively, limit pivotal movement of the links and arms with reference to each other in one direction to thus arrest downward movement of the sub-deck 35 when the latter assumes the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. It will be noted that when the sub-deck 35 is in its lowermost position, it has moved the arms downwardly sufliciently far to place the axes of the hinges 40 below the axes of the hinges 21, so that the toggle connections are locked and the legs may not be collapsed or moved to non-supporting position by mere inward pressure on the legs.

It might be noted that with the table legs in collapsed position, as illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings, movement of the sub-deck to the position where it looks the legs in supporting positions, may be effected by merely grasping the table top and giving the same a sharp jolt or shake to cause the sub-deck to move away from the top deck. The inertia of the sub-deck will cause the same to move to its lowermost position and to thus move the toggle connections to positions where they lock the legs in supporting positions.

It will be noted that when the legs are in suplinks 28 are normal to the legs so that the ends 29 thereof project outwardly beyond the legs. The upper surfaces of these ends of the arms are preferably provided with peripheral upstanding beads 45, with the result that these projecting ends of the links constitute small supporting surfaces adjacent the several legs of the table for receiving glasses, ash trays or the like. It will be noted further that the subdeck 35 is movable to a position where it is spaced article-supporting surfaces, one adjacent each leg and thus each corner of the table. Thus the invention provides a table having a plurality of article-supporting surfaces which are movable to operative and inoperatice positions upon movement of the main supporting legs to supporting and non-supporting positions. It will be noted further that each of the several article-supporting portions of the be locked in operative position when the legs are in supporting position so that the several article-supporting surfaces may be used invention shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10, there is disclosed a table top l5 to the corners of which are hingedly secured legs Zi Pivotally mounted in an opening 25 of each leg is a link 28 these links being similar in construction and operation to the links 28.

In place, however, of the deck 35, there is provided in this form of construction, crossed chanmembers 58 rigidly secured to each other Where they intersect, as designated by the reference character 5|. The ends of these arms are hingedly connected to the links 28 as by hinge pins 40 7 It is believed that the operation of this embodiment of the invention will be clearly apparent in that movement of the arms 50 toward or away from the deck l5 will effect a movement of the legs Zi to non-supporting or supporting positions. While in this form of invention there is no sub-deck on which articles may be supported, the projecting ends 29* of the links constitute small article-supporting surfaces adjacent the corners of the table.

From the above it will be apparent that the invention provides a table which is simple in construction and which may be economically manufactured. The several parts of the table may, if desired, be stamped from sheet metal or may be made from any other material desired. The table includes a plurality of article-supporting surfaces in addition to the main supporting deck or table top. One of the article-supporting surfaces is so connected to the several supporting legs of the table that its movement moves the legs to supporting and no -supporting positions and locks the legs in supporting position.

While the invention has been shown as being incorporated in a table, it will be apparent that the inventive principles disclosed may be embodied in similar articles of furniture. The right is therefore reserved to make such changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts as will fall within the purview of the attached claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In an article of furniture, a deck, supporting legs for said deck hingedly connected to the latter and movable to supporting and non-supporting positions, in which latter position said legs extend substantially radially of said deck, a second deck, and connections between said second deck and said legs operating upon movement of said second deck to a position in spaced parallel relation to said first mentioned deck to move said legs to supporting positions and to lock said legs in the said supporting positions.

2. In an article of furniture, a deck, a plurality of supporting legs hingedly connected to said deck and foldable substantially radially of the latter to non-supporting positions, a second deck, and means providing toggle connections between said second deck and said legs operating upon movement of said second deck to an operative position to move said legs to supporting positions.

3. In an article of furniture, a deck, means movable toward and away from the under surface of said deck while remaining substantially parallel thereto, supporting legs hingedly connected to said deck, and connections between said supporting legs and said means operating upon movement of said means toward said deck to move said legs to non-supporting positions substantially radially of said deck and operating upon movement of said means away from said deck to move said legs to supporting positions.

4. In an article of furniture, a deck, legs hingedly connected to said deck for movement to supporting and non-supporting positions, and means including links connected to said legs for moving said legs to supporting and non-supporting positions, said links having portions projecting beyond the faces of said legs upon movement of said legs to supporting positions to provide article-supporting surfaces adjacent said legs.

5. In an article of furniture, a deck, legs hingedly connected to said deck, and means for moving said legs to supporting and non-supporting positions, said means including links pivotally mounted in openings in said legs and having portions projecting beyond the outer faces of said legs upon movement of said legs to supporting positions.

6. In an article of furniture, a deck, legs hingedly connected to said deck and foldable substantially radially of the latter, links pivotally secured to said legs, a second deck, and arms connecting said second deck to said links, said arms and links constituting toggle connections between said legs and said second deck operating upon movement of said second deck to a position in spaced parallel relation with respect to said first mentioned deck to lock said legs in supporting positions.

'7. A table comprising a deck, legs hingedly secured to said deck, a link pivotally mounted intermediate its ends in an opening formed intermediate the ends of each leg, whereby each link may be moved from a position where it lies substantially in the plane of its respective leg to a position normal to its respective leg with opposite ends of the link projecting beyond opposite faces of its respective leg, a second deck below said first mentioned deck, arms fixed to and projecting from said second deck, and hinged connections between said arms and links, said second deck being movable toward and away from said first mentioned deck while remaining substantially parallel thereto to move said legs to non-supporting and supporting positions, the said links and arms having cooperating surfaces conto limit relative hinged movement between said links and arms when said second deck has been moved away from said first mentioned deck sufficiently to position the axes of the hinge connections between said links and arms below the axes of the hinge connections between said links and legs.

8. In an article of furniture, a deck, means movable toward and away from the under surface of said deck while remaining substantially parallel thereto, supporting legs for said deck hinged thereto for movement to non-supporting positions substantially radially of said deck, and links pivotally connected to said supporting legs and to said means operating upon movement of said means toward said deck to move said legs to non-supporting positions and operating upon movement of said means away from said deck to move said legs to supporting positions.

9. In an article of furniture, a deck, supporting legs for said deck, means hingedly securing said legs to said deck providing for movement of said legs to supporting and non-supporting positions, in which latter position said legs extend substantially radially of said deck, and means beneath said deck movable toward and away from said deck interconnecting said legs for simultaneously moving the same to either of said positions.

10. In an article of furniture, a deck, supporting legs for said deck, means hingedly securing said legs to said deck providing for movement of said legs to supporting and non-supporting positions, in which latter position said legs extend substantially radially of said deck, and means movable toward and away from said deck and connected to all of said legs providing for simultaneously moving the same to either of said positions and providing for locking said legs in supporting position.

THOMAS M. WEBBER. 

